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The central transmission utility under the Power Ministry Powergrid Corporation is launching a critical power transmission project that will connect power rich North East, estimated at 50,000 megawatts, with power starved rest of India. |
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The central transmission utility under the Power Ministry Powergrid Corporation is launching a critical power transmission project that will connect power rich North East, estimated at 50,000 megawatts, with power starved rest of India. Bids to create a transmission pipeline, called NE to North and West Interconnector, that runs over 1800 kilometers and cost about Rs. 9000 crore (USD 1.9 billion) are scheduled to be sent in the next few weeks.
There are many technical challenges to this project with 800 kilowatt lines carrying 6000 megawatts of power from the NE to Agra. While China is attempting to do a similar project, Brazil has been able to build a 600 KV line network capable of carrying only 3500 mw. Observers say that demonstrating this capability may open avenues to implement such large power projects in other parts of the world.
The other challenge is to take this power through the narrow 18 kilometer (chicken neck region) between Nepal and Bangladesh thereby competing with railway lines, oil/gas pipelines, national highways, and other infrastructure projects. Hence, the network needs to transport the most power through the least available space. There is also a competing race between these transmitters or those seeking "right of way access" to this narrow corridor.
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